Missing guinea keets!!!! Please help!

[ChickenWhisperer101]

Hi everyone! I have 5 guineas I bought as week olds. I just moved them outside into their area and went outside this morning and all 5 were out! I have since then fixed where they got out from and caught 3 of the 5 keets. I saw one of the other ones about 5-10 minutes ago but was unable to catch it and now I can’t find it again. Any advice on finding and catching them is greatly appreciated!

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

@R2elk @Mixed flock enthusiast

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

@BY Bob @JedJackson @casportpony @Texas Clucker @MysteryChicken @JacinLarkwell @RoosterWhisperer @RoostersAreAwesome @black_cat @Overo Mare @LadiesAndJane @Kiki
@Nifty-Chicken
@MrsTush
And Anyone else…

I just tagged the people on the top of my mind so it’s ok if you don’t know how to help, but if you know someone who does know about guineas can you please tag them. Thank you!
(they are still missing and haven’t seen the one since earlier)

 

[Sydney65]

As long as the ones you caught are enclosed but visible, the escapees are going to stay close.if you have a fishing net handy, now's a good time to use it.
Barring that: I don't know how your set up is. If you can entice the ones inside to eat in view of the others and it is possible to then open the door so they can join them, they should go in.
Again, not sure what you're set up is to best advise.

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

As long as the ones you caught are enclosed but visible, the escapees are going to stay close.if you have a fishing net handy, now's a good time to use it.
Barring that: I don't know how your set up is. If you can entice the ones inside to eat in view of the others and it is possible to then open the door so they can join them, they should go in.
Again, not sure what you're set up is to best advise.

They are in a sectioned off part of a lean to with 3 sides walls and one side mesh. If I put food right outside the lean to do you think the escapees will come eat? They have to be thirsty as it is 90 degrees and they’ve been gone for 3-4 hours. I just hope they don’t get dehydrated and overheated.
Thanks for the reply.
(I do have a fishing net I use for my super crazy chicks when I need to look at them, but it has a hole in it. I can try to zip tie the hole.)

 

[JedJackson]

Usually guineas will stick around their home turf, but it sounds like yours didn't have enough time to get used to their new enclosure. And they are tough to catch!

Do you have any smaller wire cages where you could put the three birds in your lean to? If you do, put them inside and keep the cages in the lean to. Then open the door to the lean to but be sure to have food and water inside. Make yourself scarce, and come back in an hour or two and see if the strays have returned. If they have, close the door, and you are good.

The other option is to just keep a watch out and see if you can figure out where the strays are roosting. If it is not too high, it may be easier to catch them that way once they go to bed for the night.

Were you planning on free ranging your guineas once they are acclimated to the lean to? If so, then you might not have to do anything beyond putting food and water out for the strays. They may stay close by to the three in the lean to.

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

Usually guineas will stick around their home turf, but it sounds like yours didn't have enough time to get used to their new enclosure. And they are tough to catch!

Do you have any smaller wire cages where you could put the three birds in your lean to? If you do, put them inside and keep the cages in the lean to. Then open the door to the lean to but be sure to have food and water inside. Make yourself scarce, and come back in an hour or two and see if the strays have returned. If they have, close the door, and you are good.

The other option is to just keep a watch out and see if you can figure out where the strays are roosting. If it is not too high, it may be easier to catch them that way once they go to bed for the night.

Were you planning on free ranging your guineas once they are acclimated to the lean to? If so, then you might not have to do anything beyond putting food and water out for the strays. They may stay close by to the three in the lean to.

I was planning to free range in 2-3 weeks. I put water by the lean to but need to put food. I might try the cage thing. I’ll see. I’m about to go check again and I’m they aren’t there then will go back out around 3:30-4:00. Thank you for all the suggestions.

 

[JedJackson]

I was planning to free range in 2-3 weeks. I put water by the lean to but need to put food. I might try the cage thing. I’ll see. I’m about to go check again and I’m they aren’t there then will go back out around 3:30-4:00. Thank you for all the suggestions.

You're welcome. I hope things work out.

 

[Sydney65]

They are in a sectioned off part of a lean to with 3 sides walls and one side mesh. If I put food right outside the lean to do you think the escapees will come eat? They have to be thirsty as it is 90 degrees and they’ve been gone for 3-4 hours. I just hope they don’t get dehydrated and overheated.
Thanks for the reply.
(I do have a fishing net I use for my super crazy chicks when I need to look at them, but it has a hole in it. I can try to zip tie the hole.)

I'd go a bit further than just inside, otherwise you may be chasing 3 more. You want to be not so close as to threaten them but close enough to shut that entry once they go in.

 

[ChickenWhisperer101]

You're welcome. I hope things work out.

Still nothing. Hope they come back to their siblings when it gets darker.